Alvin Welch is better known for his 60's recordings, "Twine Time", "The Philly Freeze", "The Barracuda" and "Unwind the Twine".

Here we have him on a lesser known recording from 1982.

"Gateway" records were out of St. Louis, Missouri.

I came across this 45 only recently and it has bugged me since I first played it, as I am sure it contains a sample of another track, but try as I might, I can't think what it is.

One of my favourite tunes at the moment.

Grace Jones - Sorry

Grace Jones was born in 1948 in Jamaica.

Forget her "Modelling", "Acting" and "Pop" career, old "Gracie" will always be best known in the UK for her 1981 "Happy Slapping" of chat show host "Russel Harty".

Here we have her on a 1976 recording which would seem to be her very first 45 released.

The "Beam Junction" release always seemed to be in every sales box I looked in back in the early 80's but the "UK" released "Polydor" copy seems to be quite scarce.

A good 70's dancer, that shows that Grace could sing when she wanted to.

Walter Jenkins - Back In My Life

I have looked and looked but I just cant find out any details about Walter or the record label.

First spun at.......... well, you get the idea by now :-)

Time to dust this old Mecca classic off and give it another chance.

The stock copies are harder to find as the flip side "Funky Walk", is a funk collectable.

The Mob - I Dig Everything About You

This smooth tune by "The Mob", was a Blackpool Mecca spin and it still sounds great.

Release on "Colossus" stateside this sneaked out here in the UK on "Polydor".

My copy of this crossover 45 has a few scuffs here and there, but not enough to spoil the listening.

I remember buying this very 45 from Doncaster market back in the early 80's for something ridiculous like 25 pence.

After hearing their storming version of "Open The Door", which Bub used to play at the White Hart soul night's in Thorne, the name of the group stuck in my head but this is a million miles away from that release.

When I got home and gave it a spin on my record deck, I was gutted that it was nothing like their "Daylight" release, but boy has it grown on me over the years.

Yet another perfect example for anyone who wants to know what "Crossover" is.

Reggie Garner - Hot Line

This great track was just a couple of years old when the Northern Soul scene found it and turned it into an in demand monster, which led to it getting a belated UK release.

When I first started to listen to this great music that is called Northern Soul, this was the type of 45 which was essential to own to prove to your mates you were serious about your music.

First played at the Mecca, it was Cleethorpes where my brother Chris first got a hold of a copy and brought it home to play to death.

I remember a few years ago at the great soul nights at "Drax" that this came on, I rushed to the dance floor and attempted to dance to it next to Kim (The Man With The Clap) White, my knees and hips soon remembered just how tricky the rhythm is to dance to.

Reggie also cut the current indemand double sider "Half A Cup / That Ain't The Way You Make Love" on "ABC" records.

Joe Tex - Under Your Powerful Love

Joseph Arrington, Jr. was born in Texas, and began performing at the world famous Apollo theater, where he won a couple of talent contests, which in turn led to a recording contract with "King" records.

When Joe converted to the Muslim faith in 1966, he changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez, but kept his stage name of "Joe Tex".

I first heard this track when it was played at the original Canal Tavern nights in Thorne, I can't remember who was spinning it as I was a little the worse for wear that night.

This track has gone on to become a massive spin on the oldies scene and also the scooter boys love it too.

If you like this track, don't forget to check out the 1972 release also on "Dial" records, "All The Heaven A Man Really Needs", which is a little slower, but still an essential 45 to own.

Tony Hester - What's Happening

This was a track which had been left in the can until recently, when it belatedly got a UK only release.

Taking influence from the then current Marvin Gaye output, such as "What's Going On", this Tony Hestor outing is still lyrically relevant today.

A great dancer here on a very nice looking demo, and well worth the work done to the "Master" to get it repaired enough to warrant this UK release.

Willie Tee - You Got To Pay Some Dues

Wilson Turbinton had a long recording career, giving us classics like "Walking Up A One Way Street", "Thank You John" and "Teasing You"

This was originally released on Bonatemp (401), but it is a very very rare 45 to track down, with only one or two known copies at the moment, I seem to remember someone mentioning that this might be a slightly different take, but that sounds like it is just the mastering and mixing on this 45.

This is a swaying crossover style dancer and is one of many excellent 45's from the late Willie Tee.

You may have noticed the name of "Curtis Lee" and it is the same guy who recorded "Is She In Your Town" among other tunes.

A great upbeat feel good cover of the "Intruders" on "Gamble", this is a track I have owned for an eternity.

Not an expensive 45 to track down, but still top quality :-)

Alpaca Phase III - I Like To Party

With an intro full of "Ooos", there is little chance of mistaking this old Mecca classic for anything else.

I can't find out any information of who this group was, but both of the above tracks are Sam Dees productions.

A stomping track that was massive, but hasn't seen a turn table since the seventies.

The Bang Gang - Who Said Honky's Ain't Got Soul

A funky seventies stomper that took the roof of both the "Mecca" and "Cleethorpes Pier", but this hasn't seen the light of day since then.

This is the original local release before it got picked up for a national release by "Warner Brothers".

I have only ever seen one scan of this label before and some of the font was in red, so I wonder if this is a Demo?

I know that I am waffling on a bit, but that is because I can't find out anything about the group other than this track and an album, can anyone else help?

The Philadelphia Society - 100 South Of Broadway

Recorded at the legendary Philadelphia "Sigma" studios, this is almost certainly The Family a.k.a. M.F.S.B.

A great sax led instrumental dancer, this was a Blackpool Mecca spin, and it even sneaked out on this UK release on "Gull" in 1975, but although the UK copy is not rare, it is a bit of a bugger to find.

This must have sold pretty well in the US, as copies are quite easy to find, which is maybe what has stopped it being a revived spin like "Sister James" or "The Brothers" have become.

The O'jays - Sing A Happy Song

This 1979 release was a only minor hit for the boys, but as it has more than a hint of "I Love Music" in there I think that the oldies crowd would go for it.

Whenever I play this track, my wife always comments that the intro sounds like "Contact" by Edwin Starr.

With extended spins, this would take the dancers by the scruff of the neck and drag them onto the dance floor.

The above scan with the lightning flash is a German demo, which also comes with a nice picture bag.

Marboo - What About Love

It would seem that the singers full name is Marboo Whisnant.

Details about him are a little sketchy, but I think he was originally from Liberia and moved to Germany, where he recorded this great track.

Another Mecca first spin but then turned into a Cleethorpes classic.

There is a 12" version of this on "Midland International" in the states and that mix really brings out the funky guitar.

Intimate Strangers - The Track / Love Sounds

Me and this backing track go back quite a few years.

Back in the early 80's I bought a soul pack from Richard Domar, and in among loads of dross, there was a UK demo of Ester Byrde's "Touch Me Take Me" on "survival" records. Upon my first spin, it sounded just so slow, although I did keep it near to the front of my play box.

I even played it just the once at one of my occasional DJ spots in Goole, but as the punters looked at me like I had just took a piss in their pint, I never bothered with it again.

I sold the Ester Byrde demo around the beginning of ebay, and it made more than I thought it would, but not as much as it would cost me to replace it today.

I then heard Rita Wright's rather washed out vocal take of "Touch Me Take Me", and boy oh boy have I regretted selling old Ester.

It wasn't until moving house a few years ago that I came across one of my old hand written record inventories, that I noticed the above disc (Intimate Strangers), entered. Now try as I might, I have no memory of ever owning this disc or where it came from.

I have been able to pick up another copy of this, and while it may not as valuable as the Ester Byrd I sold, it will have to do until I find another copy cheap.

Donny Gerrard - He's Always Somewhere Around

Donny started out as the lead singer in Canadian soft rock group "Skylark", before pursuing a solo career and releasing "Baby Don't Let It Mess Up Your Mind" on Elton John's "Rocket" label.

"He's Always Somewhere Around" is a top class Modern Soul dancer which was released twice in the US on "Greedy" numbers 107 and 114, but there doesn't seem to be any difference in price or current lack of availability.

The scan on the right is of the rarer Canadian release, the pink one is the Peruvian release, just why it got a release there and not the UK is any ones guess.

Gladys Knight & The Pips - Taste Of Bitter Love

Starting out in 1953, there are many many tracks by Gladys and the boys which have interest to the UK soul scene, including this gem from 1980.

This was a number 38 hit in the US and 35 in the UK.

Never let the fact that a record was a hit put you off from what is a real quality track.